HAYS - Dalton Dale and Derek Riggs both homered to lead the Hays High Indians to a 15-3 run-rule win in game one of their home-opening doubleheader against Garden City Friday at Hays High School. The Buffaloes turned the tables in game two, scoring 12-runs in the fourth inning to defeat the Indians 16-10.
The Indians are now 4-1 overall and 3-1 in the Western Athletic Conference. The Buffaloes move to 5-4 and 2-2 in the WAC.
Game 1: Hays 15, Garden City 3 (5 innings)
Dalton Dale gave the Indians a 2-1 lead in the first with a two-run blast over the left field fence. They added four in the second to go up 6-1. Noah Weimer drove in the first run with a single to left. He and Garrett Wellbrock would later score on a Dylan Dreiling double. Dreiling scored on a double off the bat of Dale.
After the Buffaloes scored two in the third, the Indians answered with five in the fourth. Wellbrock, Dreiling, Dale and Riggs all singled to start the inning. Then with one out, Bradyn Dreher singled to right driving in two runs. Jack Fields scored the final run of the frame on a double steal attempt.
Riggs ended the game early with a grand slam in the fifth. It came after a double by Wellbrock, an intentional walk to Dreiling and Dale was hit by a pitch.
Wellbrock and Dale each had three of the Indians 15 hits. Riggs drove in five runs and Dale four. Dreiling and Dreher both drove in a pair of runs.
Wellbrock (2-0) allowed one earned run on seven hits and picked up the win. He matched his career strikeout total with eight while walking only one.
Game 2: Garden City 16, Hays 10
The Buffaloes scored four in the first then used a 12-run fourth to build a 16-5 lead then held on the rest of the way. Garden City had eight hits in the decisive inning and took advantage of four hit batters and two walks.
The Indians scored three in the first then added single runs in the second and third to take a 5-4 lead. Dalton Dale hit his second two-run homer of the night then Brayden Dreher scoring Keaton Barnett in the first.
Garrett Wellbrock scored from third on a passed ball to tie the game in the second then the Indians scored the go-ahead run on a double-play in the third.
Hays scored a single run in the fourth on Dylan Dreiling fifth home run of the season. They would added four in the fifth but couldn't get any more the rest of the way.
Blake Schmidt suffered the loss, allowing 12 runs (11 earned) on nine hit with five strikeouts and two walks. Dalton Dale gave up four runs without recording an out. Keaton Barnett pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings to close out the game.